caramba

[kaˈɹam.ba]

/[kaˈɹam.ba]/ intj

"caramba" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“caramba” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an interjection - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Exclamation of surprise or dismay.; gosh!, darn!

Key facts for caramba
PropertyValue
Headwordcaramba
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechInterjection
IPA[kaˈɹam.ba]
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “caramba” sits in English frequency

caramba falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for caramba is 7 letters long, classified as an interjection, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [kaˈɹam.ba]. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "Exclamation of surprise or dismay.; gosh!, darn!".

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for caramba, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Spanish caramba, a euphemism for the real expletive carajo. The correct English form is caramba, spelled C-A-R-A-M-B-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    Exclamation of surprise or dismay.; gosh!, darn!

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish caramba, a euphemism for the real expletive carajo.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "caramba"?
"caramba" is spelled C-A-R-A-M-B-A. The IPA pronunciation is [kaˈɹam.ba].
What does "caramba" mean?
As an interjection, "caramba" means: Exclamation of surprise or dismay.; gosh!, darn!
How do you pronounce "caramba"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "caramba" is [kaˈɹam.ba]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "caramba"?
Borrowed from Spanish caramba, a euphemism for the real expletive carajo. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “caramba”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-A-R-A-M-B-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [kaˈɹam.ba] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list